Fire escape



Feb. 10, 1942. J. F. CARTER 2,272,932

FIRE ESCAPE Filed April 22, 1940 ATTO R N EYS Patented Feb. 10, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FIRE ESCAPE John F. Carter, Pensacola, Fla.

Application April 22, 1940, Serial No. 331,009

2 Claims.

My invention relates to fire escapes and has as one of the principal objects thereof the provision of a fire escape ladder so constructed and arranged whereby the same may be maintained within a building in a collapsed condition for disposal out of the window for emergency use together with means carried by said ladder for spacing the same from the outside wall of the building regardless which side of said ladder faces said outside wall, thereby facilitating the positioning of the ladder without the building for emergency use under confusing and exciting conditions.

Another object of my invention is to provide a fire escape device of the above described character which is simple in construction, durable in use, efficient in operation and economical in manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description, appended claims and annexed drawing.

Referring to the drawing wherein like reference characters designate like parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my invention in extended condition and illustrating the same in association with the wall of a building for emergency use.

Figure 2 is an enlarged detail side elevation of the upper portion of the invention.

Figure 3 is a front elevation of the upper portion of the device.

Figure 4 is a side elevation of the upper portion of the device and illustrating the same in collapsed condition.

Figure 5 is a side elevation of the upper portion of a modified form.

Figure 6 is a rear elevation of the upper portion of said modified form.

As illustrated in Figures 1 to 4 inclusive of the drawing, my novel form of fire escape comprises a collapsible ladder 5 fashioned with a pair of aligned oppositely disposed lazy tongs B constitututing the sides of the ladder and which tongs are connected together in spaced relation by means of ladder rungs I, said rungs constituting the interjacent pivots 8 between the ends of the respective pairs of levers 9. Both the uppermost and lowermost ends of each of the tongs are provided with pairs of forwardly and rearwardly extending brackets l0 and II respectively. Each of the brackets comprises a pair of links l2 having their outer ends pivotally connected together and their inner ends pivotally connected to oppositely disposed ends of the proximous pair of levers by means of pivot pins [3, said pins J3 forming the pivots for the adjacent pairs of levers.

Pivotally connected to the uppermost rung I are the lower diverging ends of a pair of arms I4, the upper ends of which are connected together by means of a bolt and nut I5 and which embrace the end link of a chain l6 pivotally connected to said bolt as clearly illustrated in Figure 3 of the drawing. The opposite end link of said chain 16 is secured to the inside wall of a building subjacent the window-sill by means of a screw I! or the like. When the ladder 5 is in collapsed condition the same is positioned on the floor of the building subjacent the window as illustrated in dotted lines in Figure 1 of the drawing.

In case of fire or other emergency the ladder 5 is disposed outside the window in suspended relation with the side of the building to permit those within the building to escape therefrom down said ladder. Due to the confusion and excitement immediately preceding emergency use of the ladder, the latter is usually disposed outside the window in a hurried and confused manner and without regard as to which side of the ladder is disposed immediately adjacent the wall of the building. Therefore, it will be apparent that by arranging the brackets l l in a manner to extend on each side of the ladder, an upper and lower pair of said brackets will engage the wall of the building and serve to space the ladder from the wall regardless of which side of said ladder faces the wall, thereby facilitating quick use of the ladder.

In the modified form illustrated in Figures 5 and 6 of the drawing, the upper ends of the tongs are connected together by means of an inverted U-shaped yoke 20 fashioned with a hook 2| on its upper end for engagement over a window-sill or the like to support said ladder in suspended condition.

Without further elaboration, the foregoing will so fully explain the invention that others may, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt the same for use under various conditions of service. Moreover, it is not indispensable that all the features of the invention be used conjointly since they may be employed advantageously in various combinations and sub-combinations.

It is obvious that the invention is not confined to the herein described use therefore as it may be utilized for any purpose to which it is adaptable. It is therefore to be distinctly understood that the invention is not limited to the specific construction illustrated and described, which conbrackets projecting laterally of the side members to space the ladder from a wall when the ladder is extended and to assume positions approximately parallel with the levers when the ladder is in collapsible arrangement.

2. In a collapsible ladder formed of lazy tong levers connected by center and end pivots, a pair of links having end portions overlapping and pivotally connected, the opposite ends of the said links pivotally connected to projections of the respective pivots of a complementary pair of lazy tong levers so that said links form V-shaped brackets projecting laterally of the levers in one direction when the ladder is extended, and a second pair of pivotally connected links similarly connected with lever end pivots adjacent the connection of the first mentioned links forming a V-shaped bracket which projects laterally from the levers in a direction opposed to the extension of the first mentioned links.

JOHN F. CARTER. 

